This commercial space plane, the first of its kind, is nearing completion in Louisville, Colorado, and is about to embark on a transformative trip to a NASA facility in Ohio.
In a monumental leap for space exploration, the groundbreaking Dream Chaser spacecraft is on the cusp of a historic journey
Previously unveiled by Denver7 in October 2022, the Dream Chaser spacecraft, developed by Sierra Space, is in its final stages of preparation. The remarkable spacecraft is set to be transported to the Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio, situated approximately 57 miles west of Cleveland.
This inaugural vessel of the Dream Chaser series, aptly named “Tenacity,” is slated for a momentous launch from the Kennedy Space Center in the coming year. Angie Wise, Sierra Space’s Chief Safety Officer, emphasized the Dream Chaser spacecraft’s innovative design, boasting over 2,000 specialized tiles. Notably, this spacecraft introduces an ingenious feature: folded wings that will remain closed until reaching the depths of space. These missions will all be unmanned, with the primary objective of ferrying essential cargo to the International Space Station (ISS), encompassing at least seven planned missions.
Wise highlighted the importance of cargo modules, essential to support NASA’s missions
Cargo Module 1 is already en route to NASA, attaching to the rear of the Dream Chaser spacecraft to house vital supplies. Upon reaching the ISS, this module will be unloaded and subsequently reloaded with discarded materials, ultimately disintegrating upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere once the Dream Chaser spacecraft completes its mission.
Sierra Space’s collaboration with NASA on this grand scale marks a significant milestone in their journey. A second Dream Chaser spacecraft is in production, and each craft can embark on up to 15 missions. Tenacity, alongside the forthcoming sibling, is earmarked for the seven vital ISS missions.
As Tenacity nears shipment readiness, Sierra Space is gearing up for the next phase, including environmental testing once it arrives at NASA’s Ohio facility. This phase is expected to span one to three months, following which the spacecraft will make its way to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, heralding a new era in commercial space travel.
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